It’s Day 2 of York‘s Ebor Festival on Thursday and there’s some excellent and competitive action to look forward to. We’ve picked out three of the best backed horses throughout the morning and these include a 20-1 shot which has been backed into 15-2. There is also a 14-1 shot cut into 13-2 and a 12-1 hope slashed into 13-2. Check out our free tips page for daily content across British and Irish racing.
Orbaan (15-2, bet365) has been around the block and is an experienced operator. This gelding was 20-1 but sustained support has collapsed his price into just 8-1. David O’Meara’s eight-year-old hasn’t won a handicap since scoring convincingly at Goodwood in July 2022. That victory came off a mark of 87 and he’s been slowly coming down the weights this year. He wasn’t disgraced off this mark at Sandown four days ago but more will be needed. His best run of the year came at Epsom in June and if repeating that off a 3lb lower mark here, he can certainly go close.
Novakai (13-2, bet365) was available at 14-1 on Wednesday evening but sustained market support has seen her odds slashed in half. Now available at 7-1, Karl Burke’s filly was well suited by the step up to 1m4f at Newmarket last time. She bolted up in Listed company last time but may still have a bit to find, based on her run in the Prix de Diane in June. Runner-up in the Fillies’ Mile last year, she’s clearly a smart filly and there could be more to come.
Blue Collar (13-2, Paddy Power) is now just 13-2, having been as big as 12-1 the previous evening. Richard Hannon’s juvenile makes his handicap debut in this very valuable nursery, having had just three previous starts. It was a much improved effort at Newmarket over 6f last time out, when finishing fourth. The return to 7f isn’t guaranteed to suit but the switch to handicaps should facilitate further improvement.
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